Are you craving more amazing vegan pasta bake recipes? Check out my Vegan Mac and Cheese, Baked Ziti and Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Almond Ricotta while you’re here. If you’re a fan of my Vegan Stuffed Shells or Vegan Lasagna, then you’ll be head over heels for this Vegan Manicotti recipe! This Italian-American meal stuffs manicotti shells with homemade tofu and cashew ricotta cheese before they’re covered with marinara sauce and vegan mozzarella cheese. Baked until gooey, cheesy, and bubbly, it’s an ultra-comforting meal that both adults and kids can’t get enough of!
Why you’ll love this easy vegan manicotti recipe
For cheese lovers – Stuffed with vegan ricotta and topped with melted vegan mozzarella, manicotti is always a hit with cheese lovers—vegan or not! An easy make-ahead meal – Assemble the easy manicotti, then pop it in the fridge or freezer until you need a family-friendly meal in a pinch. Kid-approved – The layers of creamy melted vegan cheese, pasta, and tomato sauce make this meal irresistible to both adults and kids.
How to make vegan manicotti
Make the vegan ricotta by processing the cashews in a food processor until they resemble fine crumbs. Break the tofu into chunks before adding it to the food processor along with the nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt, basil, and oregano. Pulse until well combined. If the ricotta seems dry at this point, pulse in a few tablespoons of water until it’s creamy and smooth. Boil the manicotti shells until they’re partially cooked, for 6 minutes. Drain, then rinse under cold water to prevent them from sticking. Transfer the vegan ricotta to a piping bag or large ziplock bag and pipe it into the manicotti shells until they’re full. How to stuff manicotti shells: The easiest way is to fill a tube halfway with ricotta, then flip it around and finish filling it from the other side. To assemble the vegan ricotta manicotti, spread some marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of the baking dish. Transfer the stuffed manicotti shells to the baking dish, narrow side up. Pour the remaining pasta sauce over top before adding the vegan mozzarella. Both store-bought and homemade vegan mozzarella work well! If you use my Stretchy Vegan Mozzarella Cheese recipe, drop spoonfuls of the cheese on top of the top layer of marinara. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil, then bake until the cheese melts and browns. Enjoy!
Serving suggestions
Vegan manicotti is comforting and filling all on its own but if you’re craving a true Italian feast, serve it with dollops of Vegan Pesto on top and Vegan Focaccia or Vegan Garlic Bread and Vegan Caesar Salad on the side.
Frequently asked questions
